Coming Home After A Trip

Full Of Stories

The most difficult thing about traveling is coming home. Especially getting used to the routine and the weather are the most difficult. Life just went on and on. No one is waiting for someone full of stories about events far away. What was fun and funny along the way may not be understandable at home with those who stayed at home.

Travels

Back from Australia and New Zealand as walking the **Camino Portuguese I had a lot of trouble hooking into everyday life, especially mentally. I didn't have the connection anymore with the people around me and wanted more than ever different things from life than them. I even told a few, but no respect for that from them. I choose to leave them and live for while outside the Utrecht region.

Camino

At the Camino I was mainly busy with myself, walking, eating, and sleeping. And then I am suddenly back, and everyday things turn out to be bigger. I was actually not finished with my reflections after walking the Camino. Therefore, I stayed for 6 months somewhere in between the Camino and home, instead of picking up life again.

Small Changes

What did work out well were small changes that I brought into my daily habits to maintain in my daily life while traveling, such as working no more than 5 hours a day and then taking a walk. The latter is unfortunately now worn out again, but I am busy building that in the routine again.

I Stayed With Hiking

I also hiked the Pieterpad (2019/2020) and Nacht van de Vluchtelingen (2019) after the Camino Portuguese in 2016. Oh and in 2009 the 4Daagse van Nijmegen*. And more to come!

With COVID-19

I went into a lockdown as the others around the world in which I had to find the balance between rest and work within my home. I see a lot of things I like to change in my home, but with the lessons of the Camino in mind moderation is the key. I got it and even succeeded in changing my business into a lockdown-proof business. Now it is time to find the balance for life after the lockdowns and keep improving my business, paying of my student debt and then travel can be in sight again (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).

*I walked the Nijmegen 4Daagse Marches in 2009. And in 2016 I saw the walkers walking through Cuijk, after I hiked the Camino Portugues and before I moved to Arnhem. I have never been to the 4Daagse feesten and I will not visit the 4Daagse feesten in the future. Never been a party animal and never will be.

**I hiked the camino to think about what I wanted further from life and Databeet, not to party like some do on the Camino. I talked while hiking with my fellow hikers, but did not party with them or others. I am not a party animal and liked the quietness and calmness of the camino.